News Release

2017-08-16

HELENA, MT - Voters looking for information on ballot measures often rely on the titles and official summaries for guidance. The National Institute on Money in State Politics examined contributions to the state officials who are responsible for the language that appears on the ballot and in official summaries. Four states had mutual donors accounting for at least 20 percent of both ballot measure and pertinent candidate money: Missouri, Oregon, Washington, and Ohio.

The data shows that there is no doubt some donors have an interest in the outcome of both candidate and issue-based campaigns. Well over one-third of all ballot measure money came from donors who also gave to pertinent candidates. Four states had mutual donors accounting for at least 20 percent of both ballot measure and pertinent candidate money: Missouri, Oregon, Washington, and Ohio.